Balance-valve for steam-engines.



11 J'. .MBANLEY. BALANCE VALVE' FOB STEAM ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 26, 1907.

Patented Nov. 24, "1908.

5 a v. W 0

mi mm Wm M M. Wm m 4v FRANOISZJOSEPHMEANLEY, OF MOSSLEY, ONTARIO,CANADA.

BALANCE-VALVE FOR STEAM-ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 24:, 1908.

Application filed July 25, 1907. Serial No. 385,490.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANCIS J osErH MEANLEY, of the town of Mossley, inthe county of Middlesex, in the Province of ()ntario, Canada, mechanicalengineer, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inBalance-Valves for Steam-Engines, of which the following is thespecification.

My invention relates to improvements in balance slide valves, and theobject of the invention is to devise a valve of this class which may becheaply manufactured which will not leak under any conditions and willutilize a minimum amount of steam pressure to. keep the same steam tightand it consists essentially of a valve chest provided with the usualsteam and exhaust ports, a slide valve triangular in cross sectionhaving a central portion forming the exhaust cavity and having a seriesof three grooves formed in the upper side of the valve, packing stripsdesigned to fit in the outermost and innermost grooves the said stripsbeing formed with reduced hooked ends designed to fit over the apex ofthe triangular valve and one beside the other to form a continuous stripover the top of the valve, bored passages extending from the bottom ofthe valve at an incline and bored passages extending from the bottom ofeach groove with the inclined passages. A cover corresponding to theform of the valve and held in position by suitable set screws and asuitable valve rod for the valve as hereinafter more particularlydescribed by the following specification.

Figure 1, represents a perspective view of my valve partially brokenaway and in section. Fig. 2, is a longitudinal sectional view through myvalve. Fig. 3, is a cross sectional view through my valve. Fig. A, is adetail of the valve centered up to show the lower surface thereof. Fig.5, is a detail of one of the backing strips.

In the drawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding partsin each figure.

A is a valve chest of any suitable form provided with the usual steamports A and A and the exhaust port A B is the slide valve formed withthe end portions B and B triangular in cross section with a slightlyround apex and each having a set of grooves B B and B which extend fromeach end of the base upwardly over the apexes of such triangularportions. It will be noticed that the grooves 13 and B are formed deepertowards the base of the valve for a purpose which will hereinafterappear.

2, 2 are inclined bored passages which extend upwardly into the valve asshown by dotted lines in Fig. 2.

3, l, 5 are bored passages which extend down from the base of each ofthe grooves B B and B into the inclined passages 2.

The end portions B and B of the valves are connected by the portions Bthereby forming between the portions B and B the exhaust cavity B C isthe valve cover corresponding in form to the shape of the valve B. Thevalve cover C is held in place by set screws C and C and C D is thevalve stem formed with a reduced threaded portion D.

D is a sleeve held in the orifices 6 and 7 extending through the ends Band B of the valve. The sleeve extends slightly beyond the end of thevalve and the reduced threaded portion D of the valve stem extendsthrough the sleeve and is held therein by the jam nuts D and D*. Bymaking the sleeve D slightly longer than the valve perfect freedom ofmovement of the valve is assured.

F are the backing strips formed with a hooked upper end F which isreduced in width to the main body of the strip as clearly shown in Fig.5. The strips so formed are arranged in pairs in the grooves one stripbeing located to each side of the valve and the reduced portion thereoffitting one beside the other thereby forming a hinge like arrangement.Although I show this form of connection as a preferable one the stripsmay be hinged without using the hooked portion of the strip. Also thetop of the valve might be brought to a sharp angle and the hook formedcorrespondingly.

The strip is gradually thickened towards the bottom as greater weartakes place at that portion of the strip than at the top. The groove istherefore formed deeper at the bottom as hereinbefore described.

Having described the principal parts involved in my invention I shallbriefly describe the operation of the same.

The valve is shown in the exhaust position for the ports A and isfeeding steam to the cylinder through the ports A. As the valve is movedover to feed steam through the ports A and to exhaust through the portA, steam enters the bored passages 3, 4, and 5 into the grooves B B andThe steam in the grooves B serves to seat the valve by expanding betweenthe valve and the cover C. Steam enters the grooves B and B through thepassages 3 and 5 and forces the strips F contained in the grooves B andB simultaneously against the inner face of the valve cover therebypreventing any escape of steam contained in the groove B to the exhaustcavity B The cover C of the valve serves to relieve the valve from theboiler steam pressure thereby allowing the valve to work freely, justsufficient steam being admitted into the groove 13 to seat the valve.The amount of steam thus required is therefore proportionately small andsuch steam is prevented from leaking from the groove B into the exhaustby means of the backing strips 3 and 5 which are expanded against thecover simultaneously.

I am aware that there are balance valves in which a semi-circular valveand cover is employed with semi-circular backing strips. Strips of thisform however require a greater steam pressure to expand them and areliable to wear unevenly and become leaky; also they are not expandedsimultaneously and therefore allow steam to escape to the exhaust. In myvalve the steam pressure required is small, the wear on the strips iscomparatively even, and all leakage is prevented whereby steam iswasted.

WVhat I claim as my invention is:

1. A balanced slide valve comprising a ing, a valve triangular in crosssection and having end members with a space therebetween, each of saidend members having grooves therein, packing strips located in saidgrooves, said strips having their upper ends bent and engaging the apexof the triangleso as to act as a hinge, and means for introducing steamunder the strips in the grooves.

2. A balanced slide valve comprising two triangularly shaped endportions having grooves in their sides, and two bottom side membersconnecting the ends together and forming a space between the ends,packing strips located in the innermost and outermost grooves of eachend portion, said strips having their upper ends bent and reduced inwidth and engaging the apex of the triangle, the reduced ends of thestrips on opposite sides contacting with each other, and means forintroducing steam into all the grooves.

3. A slide valve comprising triangularly shaped ends, and bottom sidemembers connecting said ends together and forming a space therebetween,a sleeve passing through said ends, a bar passing through the sleeve,and nuts holding the bar in place, said ends having grooves in theirupper faces, packing strips in said grooves hinged at the apex of thetriangle, and means for introducing steam into said grooves.

4;. A slide valve comprising end portions of triangular shape, bottomside members connecting said ends together, grooves in the upper sidesof said end portions, the lower portion of said grooves being deeperthan the upper portions thereof, packing strips having bent upper endsfitting in said grooves, said strips being of greater thickness at thelower ends and having their bent ends engaging the apex of the triangle,and means for introducing steam into the grooves.

FRANCIS JOSEPH MEANLEY.

WVitnesses:

EDMUND VVELD, VINA SHIPPs.

